Overview

The nervous system is one of the most important body systems. Without it, none of the other systems would have any movement at all. The nervous system controls all types of body motion, voluntary and involuntary, allowing the body to function as a cohesive unit. The Nervous System consists of many specialized mini systems that each control a different type of motion. Thanks to all of these different systems, the body can initiate motion and function properly.

The main nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, is the Central Nervous System. It collects and interprets all the nerve impulses in the body and sends signals from the brain, down the spinal cord, and throughout the body. It does this by using neurons found in the Peripheral nervous system. The Peripheral Nervous System consists of all the nerves not attached to the brain or spinal cord and connects all those nerves to the central nervous system. This allows for the body to be fully connected to all other parts of the body so that impulses can travel anywhere at any time.

The Peripheral nervous system also consists of two smaller systems-- the Somatic system and the Autonomic system. The Somatic nervous system controls all voluntary motion, such as running, while the Autonomic nervous system controls all the functions of the body that work automatically, such as the heart and glands. This system also has to sub-systems-- the Sympathetic nervous system and the Parasympathetic nervous system. The Sympathetic nervous system controls the "fight or flight" instincts. It releases adrenaline, dilates the pupils, relaxes the bladder, and speeds the heart rate. The Parasympathetic system is in charge of calming the body back down after stressful situations. It slows the heart rate, contracts the bladder, and contracts the pupils. These systems help us manage stress during dangerous or nerve racking situations.

The Nervous system helps the body perform all types of movement during all types of situations. It helps regulate our bodies internally and allow us to react during stressful situations. The nervous system keeps the body moving and working efficiently and effectively all the time.

Nervous System Outline

Definition- sends signals from the brain throughout the body to initiate motion
Purpose- to help the body communicate and work as a cohesive unit
Structure/Functions-
  1. Neurons- receives and transmits information to and from nerve centers and initiates a response
  • Sensory nerves- send messages to the brain through the spinal cord
  • Motor nerves- carry impulses from the brain to muscles and glands
  1. Central Nervous System- collects and interprets all nerve impulses; consists of the brain and spinal cord
  2. Peripheral Nervous System- consists of all the nerves not apart of the central nervous system and connects all those parts to the central nervous system
  • Somatic Nervous System- controls voluntary motion such as the skeletal and muscular system
  • Autonomic Nervous System- controls involuntary movement such as the heart, lungs, and glands
-Sympathetic Nervous System: lets body function under stress (fight or flight) such as speeding up heart rate,
releasing adrenaline, dilating pupils, ect.
-Parasympathetic Nervous System: calms body back down after stress; stabilizes heart rate, pupils contract, ect.
Other Body Systems
  1. Muscular-directs muscles in movement
  2. Skeletal-sensory receptors in joints communicate to brain about body position
  3. Respiratory- autonomic nervous system controls lung movement and respiration
  4. Digestive- autonomic nervous system controls movement of digestive track





Vocab/Concepts List

  1. Central nervous system- made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, this system collects and interprets all nerve impulses
  2. Peripheral nervous system-consists of all the nerves not apart of the central nervous system and connects all those parts to the central nervous system
  3. Autonomic nervous system-controls involuntary movement such as the heart, lungs, and glands
  4. Somatic nervous system-controls voluntary motion such as the skeletal and muscular system
  5. Neurons-receive and transmit information to and from nerve centers and initiates a response
  6. Sympathetic- a part of the autonomic nervous system that lets the body function under stress (fight or flight) by speeding up heart rate,releasing adrenaline, dilating pupils, ect.
  7. Parasympathetic- a sub category of the autonomic system that calms the body back down after stress by stabilizing the heart rate, contracting pupils, ect.
  8. Nerve impulses- electrical impulse that travels through the nerves and transmits information throughout the body
  9. Motor nerves- carries impulses from the brain to muscles and glands
  10. Sensory nerves- send messages to the brain through the spinal cord
  11. Myelin- a fatty substance that protects the nerves of the brain & spinal cord
  12. Aura- an unusual feeling felt prior to a more widespread epileptic seizure
  13. Ictus- a whole epileptic seizure, including the aura
  14. Post Ictus- the time period after an epileptic seizure when a person experiences muscle weakness or deep sleep
  15. Pallidotomy- a dyskinesias controlling PD surgical procedure where the internal part of the GPi is destroyed by a high frequency energy current which heats it to a desired temp
  16. Deep Brain Stimulation- a tremor & slow movement controlling PD surgical procedure where an electrode is implanted in the brain & connected to a pacemaker, implanted under the skin near the collar bone, which sends electrical signals to regulate activity
  17. Thalamotomy- a tremor controlling PD surgical procedure where a high frequency current is used to destroy a small area in the thalamus
  18. Idiopathic- type of epilepsy when causes are unknown
  19. Symptomatic- type of epilepsy when causes are known
  20. Crytogenic- type of epilepsy when causes are suspected but not found
  21. Demyelination- the destruction of the myelin shealth
  22. Stroke:heart refuser to flow blood
  23. Ischemis Stroke:its a common kind of stroke
  24. Blood Vessels:part of the circulatory system
  25. MRA:magnetic resonace angiography
  26. Irritability:an irritable petulant feeling
  27. Thrombosis:the formation or a thrombus
  28. Impaction:the condition of being pressed
  29. Ulcers:a circumscribed inflammatory
  30. Stimuli:a change inside ir outside the body
  31. Warfarin:a treat for an anticagullant
Diagrams
external image ln2_6_1.gif
autonomic_nervous_system.png
external image Screen%20shot%202010-03-08%20at%209.52.10%20PM.pngcentral+peripheral_nervous_system.png
Quia Quiz:

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2282618.html



Hyperlinks:
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookNERV.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nsdivide.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/organ.html
http://www.ehs.net/2231/pdf/autonomic.pdf
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/CNS.html